Consumer Information Center So You Have High Blood

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Chapter 1

So You Have High Blood Cholesterol

Questions You May Have About Your High Blood Cholesterol

	Since Im a Woman, Why Should I Worry About Having a Heart Attack? Its true that before menopause, women are unlikely to die from heart disease. But as they get older, especially after menopause, their chance of developing heart disease goes up. Women and men in their seventies have an equal likelihood of dying from heart disease. Thats why at any age it is important for women as well as men to the steps to prevent high blood cholesterol. At 69, Im Feeling Fine. Why Do I Need to Make Changes Now? You have three very good reasons to change some of your health habits. First, the risk of heart disease increases as you get older. Although you are feeling well, you may already have some buildup of fat and cholesterol in your arteries. Unless you try to stop or reverse the buildup, you may have a heart attack later on. Second, adopting a healthy lifestyle helps reduce the risk of heart diseaseeven for people your age. People in their seventies can lower their blood cholesterol levels, and therefore deposit less fat in their arteries. Being more physically active is another important step that helps to protect older people against heart disease. A heart-healthy diet should also be a balanced diet. Most people will not have to make extreme changes to make their eating and activity habits healthy. These changes can fit in with your overall lifestyle. Reason number three: Youve got a lot of living yet to do. A man at 69 can expect on average to live another 15 years; a woman at 69 can expect to live another 19 years. The changes you make now can help make those years more healthy and enjoyable. Will Lowering My Blood Cholesterol Help Me Live Longer ? Many studies show that lowering cholesterol levels reduces the risk of illness or death from heart disease, which kills more men and women each year than any other illness. If you have heart disease, lowering your cholesterol level will probably help you to live longer, but you will definitely reduce your risk of illness and death from heart attack.
	Since Heredity Can Cause High Blood Cholesterol, Do My High Levels Mean That My Family Is At Risk? If you have high blood cholesterol, your family may also have high levels. This includes your children, parents, brothers, and sisters. They should all have their cholesterol levels tested to help protect them from heart disease. How Much Does My Cholesterol Level Change From Day To Day? Your cholesterol level varies somewhat from day to day , sometimes by more than 15-20 mg/dL. Different laboratories also may use different methods of analyzing blood cholesterol levels which can give different results. This is why you need more than one cholesterol test before starting any treatment. What Is a Cholesterol Ratio? Some laboratories may calculate a cholesterol ratio. The ratio is obtained by dividing either total cholesterol or LDL- cholesterol by the HDL-cholesterol. The ratio is not recommended since it is more important to know each value separately. Be sure to get separate total cholesterol, LDL,and HDL values. My Blood Test Showed I Also Have High Triglycerides How Does That Affect My Risk of Heart Disease? Triglycerides are a form of fat that is carried through the bloodstream. Most of your body's fat tissue is in the form of triglycerides. High blood triglyceride levels aline usually do not raise your risk of heart disease. But many people have a high triglyceride level along with high LDL- and low HDL- cholesterol levels. In these cases,the three are often treated together.
Here's how to judge your triglyceride level: Normal Borderline-High High Very High less 200 mg/dL 200-400 mg/dL 4000-1000 mg/dL greater than 1,000 mg/dL
	Borderline-high and high triglyceride levels are first treated with the same diet and lifestyle changes used for high blood cholesterol levels. These changes include:  Weight loss (if you are overweight)  A diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol (Step I and Step II.)  Increased physical activity  No smoking  No alcoholic beverages (for some people) Usually "very high" levels are due to heredity. They may be lowered with the changes above with medicines.
	Does Eating Foods High in Salt and Sodium Increase My Blood Cholesterol Level? No. The amount of sodium in your diet has no effect on your cholesterol level. However, sodium can cause blood pressure to rise in some people. Further, many people with high blood cholesterol also have high blood pressure. If you have both, it's a good idea to reduce your sodium intake. The National High Blood Pressure Education Program recommends no more than 2,400 mg per day (the amount in about 1 teaspoon of table salt). On average, Americans take in 4,000 to 6,000 milligrams of sodium each day. This sodium comes from many different foods. Foods high in sodium include some canned soups, vegetables, and meats; instant soups and cereals; ready-to-eat cereals; salty snacks and crackers; pickles and olives; and many frozen meals. For more help on reducing sodium as part of a cholesterol- lowering diet, write for Step by Step Eating To Lower Your High Cholesterol.

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